Public Citizen, Inc. is a liberal 501(c)(4) lobbying and advocacy organization created by left-wing activist and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.[1] The organization supports a broad liberal policy agenda focused on opposing to the free-market interests of American business owners.[2]

Throughout its more than 30-year history Public Citizen touts that it successfully advocated for numerous left-wing policy mandates. The group’s anti-free-market lobbying agenda supports increased government spending[3] and opposed multiple tax cuts.[4] The group also touts its support for enacted policies that increased civil liabilities,[5] and imposed costly environmental mandates[6] and regulatory red-tape[7] on businesses.

Organizational History

Liberal activist and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader created Public Citizen, Inc. in 1971 to act as a fund-raising conduit for his two other Washington-based organizations, the Center for Study of Responsive Law and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Thomas A. Troyer, a tax lawyer, and Paul Gikas, a professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, both served on PC’s initial board of Directors.[11]

In 2001 Public Citizen distanced itself from its founder Ralph Nader in order to avoid criticisms from Democrats who believed Nader’s Green Party presidential candidacy cost Democratic nominee Al Gore the presidency in 2000.[12]

Programs

According to its annual tax filings, in 2015 Public Citizen, Inc. funded three main programs. Congress Watch pressures Congress and lobbies for anti-free market legislation,[15] Global Trade Watch advocates for nationalist protectionism, [16] and a communications and outreach program supporting the organization’s wide range of left-wing policy goals.[17]

Public Citizen Foundation

Public Citizen Foundation supports the lobbying and advocacy efforts of Public Citizen,[18] Inc. sharing the costs for the Public Citizen, Inc.’s programs, while also funding a Litigation Group program, the Health Research Program, and the Energy Program.[19]

Lobbying Activities

Since 2007, Public Citizen has spent over $2.4 million lobbying Congress[22] and federal agencies[23]on 460 bills.[24] The group’s anti-free-market lobbying agenda supports increased government spending; expanded civil, environmental, and regulatory burdens; and a wide array of other left-wing policy prerogatives.[25]

Public Citizen claims to have successfully lobbied against multiple tax cuts,[26] in favor of retaining the death tax,[27] and against policies that would have limited federal spending.[28] In 2017, the group expressed “outrage” at the passage of a Republican-backed tax cut package,[29] and the group’s President Robert Weissman opposed the 35% decrease in the corporate tax rate.[30]

In 1975, Public Citizen successfully lobbied Congress for environmentalist legislation, including fuel economy mandates for cars.[31] In 1980 the group pushed for the Superfund law, which exposed corporations to unlimited liability for environmental cleanup efforts.[32] It fought against President Ronald Reagan’s efforts to reign in environmentalist regulations,[33] and the group claims to have played a major role in President Barack Obama’s 2012 decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline.[34]

Public Citizen claims to have successfully pushed congress and federal agencies to implement numerous other regulations banning products,[35] extending labor protections,[36] and opposing the deregulation of electric utilities.[37] It also touts that it helped create new federal regulatory agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission[38] and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.[39]

The group also often chastises “Dark Money” organizations that air electioneering communications without fully disclosing their donors.[42] But Public Citizen is registered as a 501(c)(4) lobbying group and touts that it has run ads against President Donald Trump,[43] including one internet attack ad titled “An Honest Campaign Ad.”[44] The group also touts that in 2003 it ran a special website attacking President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign for taking alleged special-interest contributions. [45]

Public Citizen touts that it has sought to lead other left-of-center allies in a unified fight against President Trump.[46] It has sharply criticized President Trump’s decision to roll back multiple environmentalist policy mandates,[47][48]opposed his repeal of numerous regulations,[49] and was critical of the President’s budget.[50]

People

Robert Weissman has served as president of Public Citizen since 2009. Prior to joining Public Citizen, Weissman was executive director at Essential Action where he pushed for stringent legislative and regulatory actions against banks and other companies.[51]